Building a Portfolio From Your IITM BS Projects

The IITM BS in Data Science has four graded projects at the Diploma level. They are the MAD1 and MAD2 projects, the MLP project, and either the BDM project or the Deep Learning and Generative AI project. Two Degree level lab electives add more hands-on work. These are a good base for a portfolio. Put each one on GitHub with a clear README, add a line for each on your CV, and improve them after grading. Never copy someone else's project.

Project courses in the curriculum

These are the project courses named in the Data Science handbook:

For the BDM project, you may use web scraped data if you name the source, but then the highest grade you can get is D.

At the Degree level, there are two lab electives of 4 credits each:

• Data Science and AI Lab (BSDA4001), which needs Deep Learning first.
• Application Development Lab (BSCS4010), which needs the Diploma in Programming.

The handbook says these are fully hands-on, with weekly graded assignments, a project and a viva. It says they include industry topics that prepare you for job interviews. Seats are limited because of the project work.

For how vivas are scored, read how IITM BS projects are graded. For the app projects in detail, see MAD 1 and MAD 2 projects. For the course lists, see the Diploma in Programming and the Diploma in Data Science.

Turn each project into a portfolio piece

This part is our advice. The handbook does not cover portfolios.

• Write a README. Say what the project does, the tools you used, how to run it, and add two or three screenshots.
• Show the app working. For MAD1 and MAD2, a short screen recording helps a recruiter who will not install your code.
• Explain your choices. The viva already makes you explain your code. Write down those answers: why this database design, why this model.
• For the MLP project, show how you cleaned the data, which models you compared, and what you learned from the results.
• For the BDM project, a short report with clear charts and three or four business insights works better than raw files.

Go beyond the brief after grading

Many students submit projects from the same brief. To be remembered, add something of your own once the term is over:

• A new feature, better tests or a cleaner interface
• Deployment, so the app runs online
• A short note on what you changed and why

Always make it clear which part was the course project and which part you added later.

Put it on your CV and profiles

• One line per project: what it does, the main tools, and one result.
• Mark it as a course project in the IIT Madras BS programme. Do not present it as a job.
• Keep your coding profiles active. For job support, the placement cell asks for profiles on sites like HackerRank, LeetCode or Kaggle, with activity points.

One student comment in the official Batch 2024 Summary says the student showed the MAD projects in job interviews. That is one story, not a promise, but it shows how these projects can be used.

Academic integrity: never copy

The handbook is strict about plagiarism in projects:

• You may face disciplinary action.
• You get a U grade and must redo the project by paying the full fee again: Rs 2,500, or Rs 6,000 if you joined from January 2026.

The handbook does not say whether you may post your project code publicly while the course is running. To be safe, keep the repository private until grades are out, and do not share your code with classmates. Follow any rule in the current project statement.

Common questions

Is a course project enough for a portfolio?

It shows you can finish real work to a standard, which is a good start. But many applicants will have the same project. Add your own improvements, or build one project on a problem you care about.

Should a software applicant show the BDM project?

It can still help if the role touches data or business. Put your strongest technical projects first and the BDM project lower down.

Can I use AI tools in my project?

The handbook section on projects does not mention AI tools. Check the current project statement and ask the course team if it is unclear. Whatever you use, you must be able to explain every part in the viva.

When should I start building a portfolio?

Start with your first Diploma level project. Placement cell internship support opens once you finish one diploma, and by then you will have done two projects. Make those two presentable before you apply, and keep adding to the same GitHub profile.